Lori K. wrote: > > Here is my short list of very upscale places to spend a night with your lover in Philadelphia. > Le Bec Fin > 1523 Walnut 215.567.1000 > hello Yes, this is undeniably one of the area's best restaurants. It's classic > American-restaurant French food served in a beautiful dining room at somewhat elevated > prices by an incredible staff. Everything is excellent here but do beware the wine list: > both its length and its prices leave something to be desired. > Dear Ms Katkovsky, Thank you for your kind words regarding Le Bec Fin. It is always wonderful when our hard work is recognized! I do apologize that you feel the wine list is too long and expensive, perhaps some explanation is in order. The list is long, over 26 pages of carefully selected gems that are a complilation of our thirty years of serving cuisine classique. We believe that in the best tradition of French high dining, the cellar must be complete and deep with emphasis on wines that compliment the cuisine. Of course 26 pages of wine can be imposing, however there will always be at least two sommeliers at your disposal. Like Chef Perrier's cuisine which is ever evolving, under the tutledge of our Director of Wine Gregory Moore, the sommeliers who will help you are not stuck in the rut of recommending the most expensive wine. We want to get you the wine that compliments your meal, taste and pocketbook! In the last year, I have expanded the rhone and south-west sections of the wine list to include delicious value oriented wines that have been well recieved by our guests. In addition, we currently pour eight wines by the glass, none of which are over $10 but all of which are delicious and in different styles. The next time you visit us ask for me, Edward or Stephane or Abe or Yves or Mark at lunch Mr. Tuverson holds forth. And please, have fun with the list, we do. Order a glass of Diebolt-Vallois champagne, sit back and flip the pages, dream about the 1945 Margaux, the 1976 Chambertin, the 1995 Chinon, the 1995 Cotes-de-Bergerac..., ask us some questions, tell us what you want and enjoy all Le Bec Fin has to offer you. Santé! Yours in wine, Edward Murray chef sommelier
Philadelphia, PA